Volunteers make an incredible difference to communities across Essex every day. Whether you’re looking to give back, develop new skills, meet people, or support a cause you care about, there’s a volunteering opportunity waiting for you.
Looking to volunteer?
Visit The Essex Map at www.essexmap.co.uk to discover local volunteering opportunities and find a role that suits your interests, availability, and skills.
Recruiting volunteers?
If you’re a charity, community group, social enterprise, or voluntary organisation, make sure your opportunities are listed on Essex MAP so that potential volunteers can find you.
Need extra help finding volunteers?
Members can also submit volunteer requests to the Essex Alliance weekly newsletter, reaching organisations, partners, and individuals across the county. Simply email communications@essexalliance.org.uk with details of your opportunity.
This Volunteers’ Week, let’s celebrate the people who give their time to strengthen our communities and encourage even more Essex residents to get involved.
Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News
June is Great Outdoors Month — the perfect time to get outside, get active, and discover the amazing outdoor spaces, activities, and community groups across Essex.
The Essex Map helps people find local opportunities to improve wellbeing, connect with others, and enjoy the outdoors. From walking groups and community gardens to outdoor fitness, family activities, nature projects, and wellbeing services, the map makes it easier to discover what’s happening near you.
Whether you’re:
🚶 Looking for local walking or cycling groups 🌳 Searching for outdoor wellbeing activities 🌼 Wanting to connect with nature and your community 👨👩👧 Looking for family-friendly outdoor activities 🤝 Or part of an organisation offering outdoor services or events
…the Essex Map can help you connect with local opportunities.
Do you run an outdoor group, activity, or community service?
Add your organisation or event to the map for free and help more people across Essex discover ways to enjoy the outdoors and support their wellbeing.
This Pride Month, let’s celebrate visibility, connection, and community by highlighting the amazing LGBTQ+ organisations, support groups, and inclusive services across Essex.
The Essex Map is a free community directory designed to help people find local support, activities, wellbeing services, charities, and community groups all in one place. It includes dedicated LGBTQ+ listings featuring organisations such as The OutHouse, Basildon Pride, MindOut, LGBTQ+ youth groups, and more.
Whether you’re:
🏳️🌈 Looking for support 🏳️⚧️ Searching for inclusive local services 💬 Wanting to connect with community groups 🤝 Or promoting an organisation that supports LGBTQ+ people
…the Essex Map is here to help.
Are you an organisation supporting the LGBTQ+ community?
You can add your service or group to the map for free, helping more people across Essex discover the support, spaces, and communities available to them.
A series of monthly Recovery from Addiction workshops are being delivered by experts in their fields. These are intended to educate and inform both service users, professionals, and anyone who has an interest in these topics. Sessions will include time for Q&As.
The topic for this month’s workshop is Chemsex – A Growing Epidemic and How to Stay Safe. This session focuses on chemsex, offering clear, non-judgemental information alongside space for open and respectful discussion.
Delivered by Amy Brown, Health Promotion Specialist at Essex Sexual Health Service, the workshop will cover:
What chemsex is and why it happens
Risks to physical and mental health
Harm reduction and support options
These sessions are open to anyone with an interest in recovery and wellbeing, including people in recovery, professionals and members of the wider community.
No prior knowledge needed. Just come along and take part in a supportive, welcoming space.
This is a drop-in session and part of the Rainbow Recovery workshop series. You’re welcome to attend one or join multiple sessions.
Chelmsford City Racecourse are delighted to offer two community events in May.
Walk & Talk – Thursday 14th May
Fancy a walk and a natter? Then join us for a Walk & Talk event on Thursday 14th May at 9:45am.
Enjoy a gentle walk (short and long routes available), then hang around afterwards for refreshments and an optional wellbeing talk.
No need to book, just come along!
Meet at our main car park off the northbound carriageway of the A131 (CM3 1QP).
Free parking and tea & coffee. Dogs are welcome.
For more information, please contact info@chelmsfordcityracecourse.com
Dementia ‘Time for a Cuppa’ Event – Wednesday 20th May
We are supporting local residents living with dementia. By the time we have boiled the kettle, another person will have developed dementia, with over 944,000 people in the UK affected.
We are inviting local residents who are living with dementia to join us for a cuppa and cake.
Join us in a safe space with Dementia UK on hand for support, a cuppa, cake, fun activities and a meet and greet with Manny, our ex-racehorse ambassador.
When? Wednesday 20th May
Where? Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs, CM3 1PZ
What Time? 2:00pm-4:00pm
How Much? £5 per head, booking is essential
For more information, contact info@chelmsfordcityracecourse.com
Through the generosity of The Prudence Trust and The Stone Family Foundation, Renew is now offering freeParent Support Sessions.
These groups are for parents, carers and professionals supporting young people with issues around negative body image, disordered eating or low self-esteem. We aim to help build confidence and equip them to support their child through these challenges.
Our sessions will provide a safe space to share experiences, ask questions and gain support and practical strategies from trained professionals.
You can attend these on an adhoc basis or more regularly to suit your needs. You do not need to have an existing relationship with Renew to access these sessions.
When?Every Wednesday
Where?Either in person at Chelmsford Counselling Centre or online
What time?In person at 10:00am until 11:30am, or Online at 6:00pm – 7:00pm
The Baytree Shopping Centre in Brentwood is set to host Brentwood’s first ever Coffee Morning, bringing the local community together for a meaningful cause.
Taking place on Friday 15th May and Saturday 16th May from 10am to 3pm, the two-day event will raise vital funds to support hospice care, helping to provide compassionate support for people living with illnesses that cannot be cured, as well as care and guidance for their families and loved ones.
Visitors are invited to enjoy a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the heart of the centre, with tea, coffee and a selection of delicious cakes available throughout the event. The Coffee Morning offers the perfect opportunity for friends, families and visitors to come together, support an important cause and take a moment to connect. Hospices play a vital role within communities, offering specialist care, comfort and dignity to those who need it most. Support from events like this helps ensure these essential services can continue, both now and for future generations.
Charlotte Winder from Saint Francis Hospice commented: “We’re delighted to be working with The Baytree Shopping Centre to host Brentwood’s first ever Coffee Morning. Community is at the heart of everything we do at Saint Francis Hospice, and this event is a fantastic opportunity to bring local people together while raising awareness and support for the care we provide across the community. We look forward to welcoming visitors for what promises to be a really special and meaningful day.”
Visitors are also encouraged to make the most of everything The Baytree has to offer, combining their visit with a day of shopping and exploring the centre’s mix of high street favourites.
Maria Kyriacou-Edwards from The Baytree Shopping Centre commented:“We’re incredibly proud to be hosting Brentwood’s first ever Coffee Morning. Community is at the heart of everything we do, and this event is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together while supporting such an important cause. We look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy the event alongside everything The Baytree has to offer.”
Every cup of coffee and every donation made during the event will contribute towards supporting hospice care, helping to make a real difference within the community.
World Health Day is a reminder that good health is about more than medical care. Community support, wellbeing activities, advice services, and local organisations all play an important role in helping people live healthier lives.
The Essex Map helps people across Essex find local services that support health and wellbeing – from community groups and support organisations to advice and activities.
If your organisation offers services that support health and wellbeing in Essex, make sure people can find you on the map.
If you’re looking for support, explore what’s available in your area.
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about stress and help people find the support they need.
One practical way we can all support our communities is by making it easier for people to find local services quickly and easily.
The Essex Map (www.essexmap.co.uk) is a free online directory that helps residents, professionals and community organisations discover services across Essex that support health, wellbeing, community connection and more.
We would love your help to make the map even more useful during Stress Awareness Month.
How you can get involved:
• Promote the Essex Map to people you support so they can find local help and resources when they need it.
• Add your organisation or service to the map so more people can find the support you provide.
• Share the map with colleagues and partners to help grow the network of support across Essex.
The more organisations that are listed, the easier it becomes for people experiencing stress or other challenges to find the right support at the right time.
